Watermelon carrier



Jan. 5, 1954 s. MOORE ET AL WATERMELON CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 1 1951 S S R W Y 62v 0 MZ Mmm M Z M 5d 0 W K p d/ w .1 amww fifi. Y B m 2 Jan. 5, 1954 s, MOORE ET AL 2,665,162

WATERMELON CARRIER Filed May 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY JWW Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT oF'FIcE Scott Moore, Edward J. Meyers, and Patrick'R. Nolan; Oklahoma Cit'y, Okla.

Application'May'h 1951; SerialNo. 223,896

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a hand implement for. transporting bulky articles'and'more particularly to a hand implement. for. transporting watermelons.

There has been no. suitable hand implement developed which would eifectively alleviate. a large proportion of the energy necessary to transport: bulky articles manually. This is found particularly true. with regard 'to. the harvesting and transporting of large bulky fruits and vegetables such as watermelons and pumpkins. Normally'a laborer during the harvest season is restricted to handling, buta single watermelon at-a time. This restriction onhandling is not due to-any weight limitation, but rather resides inthe factithat the watermelon is so bulky. As is. the. case, the watermelon is afruit in the shapeof alarge ellipsoid and possessesa smooth hard skin. Consequently, it is a difficult fruit to'hold in just one hand because of'its size, shape, andhard. surface. Also it is equally difficult to hold one beneath an armsince its-smooth hard surface prevents the carrier from squeezing the fruit to slightly deform the area beneath the arm in. order to holdit securely In addition, the smooth surface. slips considerably; when in contactwith a textile material. Consequently, it is necessary when handling watermelons. manually to graspasingle'fruit both hands in orderto hold it: securely while. transporting it.-

Accordingly, the present invention is directed toa-hand; implement which will facilitate the harvesting and transporting of watermelons manually. The present invention provides apparatus; consistingiof a pairi'of membersmounted together pivotally to-form ajaw-forreceiving a watermelon. One of the members is extended beyondthe pivotal connection to form ahandle which in turncontrols the position of the -jaw. In use, a laborer holds animplement in each hand and by proper manipulation of the handles, lie-can grasp-or release a watermelon with each implement;

It is thereforeanobject of this invention to provide-an implement whereb ya laborer can harvest and transport two watermelons at one time.

It is a further object to provide an implement which will make the harvesting and transporting of watermelons more economical and efiicient than heretofore.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a detailed consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure 1- isa view in side elevation showing the implement of the present invention grasping a watermelon;

Figure 2-is aview in plan similar to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section of the implement as shown in Figure I taken along line 3-3; I

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section showing the connection of the implement" illustrated in Figure 1 taken along. line'4 4;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the connection pin;

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation showing amodification of the implement of the present invention grasping a wat'errnelon; H

Figure '7 is a view in top plan similartoFig ure 6; p v V I Figure 8 is a view-in horizontalsectionof the implement as shown in Figure 6 taken along linev 8-8; I,

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation similar to Figure 6 which is broken away to show the connection between the members; and

Figure 10 is a View in front elevation'showing the grippingmeans ofi'the forked element.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the implement of the present invention. It includes an L-shaped member ID that is rectangular-incross'section; a handle I2 is attached to orie'leg llofmember' lIJ.

Finger grips 13'. are provided: on the undersurface of handle [2. Thedistal' end l5 of the other leg 14 has'a" raisedknob It just prior'to its termination; The tip I] of distal end I5 is arranged to present a curved grippingsur'face [8 in the same direction as knob l6. Between knob 16 and tip 11;,thelg l4 is'cut out as at l9; The proximal endZU of leg II is provided with a series of holes 2|longitudinallyspaced;

A second members?) is arranged to cooperate with member. ID" in a manner to be described hereinafter. Thismemher'i-ill h'asa head portion 3t and is. bifurcated to form forked el'e1nerit's3'2. Each element". 32' has a ridge 33 L on" its top" surface? Additionally ,"its i distal end?! has a" raised knob 35Ijust priorto it'sitermination; The tip 36 of distal end 3'4 is arrangedtopres'ent a'curved gripping surface 3'! inwardly.

The head portion 3| of member 30 is slotted at 40 in order to receive leg IA of member 10. Each side 4| of slot 40 is provided with a series of aligned holes 42 longitudinally spaced. The members In and 30 are connected together as shown in Figure 4. A pin 50 passes through a pair of aligned holes 42 in head portion 31 of member ID and a hole 2| in the proximal end head portion 76 is provided with teeth 89.

20 of leg M of member ID. The pin 50' includes a shaft 5| having a knob 52 mounted at one end. The other end 53 of the pin 50 is provided with a groove 54 as shown in Figure 5. A spring clip 55 is mounted in the groove 54 by means of a screw 56. The clip 55 has a raised portion 51 that will lock the clip 55 in position.

In use an implement is taken in one of the hands of a laborer by means of handle I2. The implement is then lowered over a watermelon I in the manner indicated in Figure 2. Note that the forked elements 32 and the leg I I are on diametrically opposite sides of watermelon I00 about its longitudinal axis. When in this position the implement is ready to raise or lift'the watermelon I00. This is accomplished by merely lifting the handle ii. in a vertical direction. This vertical motion causes leg 14 to pivot toward forked ele ments 32 thereby cradling the watermelon I00 while firmly retaining it therein. The curved gripping surfaces l8 and 31 sustain the greater load inasmuch as they tend to press on the surface of the watermelon in a direction normal thereto. The surfaces I8 and 31 are curved to conform to the surface of the watermelon Hill so that use of the implement will not bring about injurious results. The knobs E and tend to press on the surface of watermelon IUD in a direction nearly tangential thereto. Hence, the knobs l6 and 35 while rounded are, nevertheless, further restrained from causing further damage to watermelon I00 by reason of their configuration. In the manner above-described, a laborer can harvest and transport two watermelons at a time.

Figures 6 to 10 inclusive illustrate a modification of the implement of the present invention. It includes a curved somewhat L-shaped member 69 having a handle 82 at one end and a plate (54 mounted on its other end. The surface of this plate 64 is irregular as indicated at and serves as a gripping surface. The member 6!! is slotted as indicated at 68 about midway between its ends. The bottom 79 of the slot 68 is provided with a projection '12.

A second member M is arranged with member and consists of a head portion 16 and bifurcated forked elements 78. The undersurface of The head portion 76 fits through slot 68 and the teeth 85 can be adjustably positioned on projection 12 by mating the teeth 83 with projection 72. The two members are thus removably and adjustably held together.

Each element i8 has mounted thereon a pair of pivoted units 82 each of which is pivotally connected to element 73 by a pin 84. Each pivoted unit 82 also includes a plate 8'6 the surface of which is irregular as indicated by 88. The irregular surfaces 88 of the pivoted units 82 serve as gripping surfaces.

In use the implement is positioned about a watermelon I05 as indicated in Figure 6 and a laborer grasps handle 62 with one of his hands to lift the Watermelon Hi0 and transport it.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, nevertheless, various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art are within the spirit, scope, and contemplation of the present invention.

We claim:

1. An implement for harvesting and transporting watermelons that comprises a curved member, a plate having a curved irregular surface mounted on one end of said curved member, the other end of said curved member constituting a handle, a second member having on one end a head portion and on the other end curved bifurcated elements laterally offset from said curved member, a pivoted unit mounted on each of said elements presenting an irregular surface facing the curved irregular surface of said curved member, said pivoted units being angularly offset from one another, and means for pivotally connecting said head portion to said curved member intermediate its ends so that a watermelon can be firmly retained between said curved surfaces when said handle is lifted.

2. An implement for harvesting and transporting watermelons that comprises a curved member, a plate having a curved irregular surface mounted on one end of said curved member, the other end of said curved member constituting a handle, a second member having on one end a head portion and on the other end curved bifurcated elements laterally offset from said curved member, a pivoted unit mounted on each of said elements presenting an irregular surface facing the curved irregular surface of said curved member, said Divoted units being angularly offset from one another, said curved member having a slot intermediate its ends, a projection located at the bottom of said slot, the under-surface of said head portion having teeth, said head portion being received in said slot and said teeth mating with said projection to form a pivotal connection so that a watermelon can be firmly retained between said curved surfaces when said handle is lifted.

3. An implement as defined in claim 1 wherein two pivoted units are mounted on each of said elements angular-1y offset one from the other.

4. An implement as defined in claim 2 wherein two pivoted units are mounted on each of said elements angularly offset one from the other.

SCOTT MOORE. EDWARD J. MEYERS. PATRICK R. NOLAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

